continued Tissue expander pain!!

I am amazed at how little drugs they give you for the fill.  My PS told me

advill and muscle relaxers... You actually need more than advil.  I think

if they went thru it they would understand.   I am curious how any one every gets adicted to drugs the way they distribute them like everyone is an addict.. especially when you need them.   I think the main thing

to do is to do it slowly.. I think my ps went to fast so I stopped early

because I could not deal with the pain.  I had the inplants placed

3 weeks ago.. It is nice to have soft breasts again... they are however

alot smaller then I thought they would be but that I can live with.

Anne



Maybe you're getting too much fill at one time. My PS will be doing only 50cc at a time. A lot of us go in weekly for 50cc fills without any issue. Whereas, a lot have had 100cc (or more) fills and seem to experience a great deal of pain. Some have even had ot returned to their PS and have some of the fill drained. I plan on the 50cc per week rather than 100cc every other week. It will still take the same amount of time, but cause less pain.

Hi Ladies,

I keep hoping it's worth it as well. I can't wait until Dec 18th for the exchange and not have the "coconut bra-hamburger bun-and every other name we call it" off my chest! I stopped the fills at 760ccs 5 weeks ago and still have muscle spasms and find it hard to breath at times. I deal with it during the day and take 10mg of Flexeril at night to get some relief so I can at least sleep a little.  Yall have a good night.

Margaret

Hey Teri,

The fills are brutal to say the least! I had 100ccs put in at surgery. The first fill after surgery was 180 which wasn't too bad because the skin was still traumatized from the surgery (this was done about 6 weeks after the mast). The remaining fills were 120ccs every other week and they did get harder as time went on because the skin and muscle were just plain mad they had to stretch! The last fill was the hardest; when they removed the needle some of the saline shot out 6 feet across the room and hit my husband. The muscle spasms haven't eased up at all. There are a few of us here that have mini-boobs under our armpits because the expanders have moved or become very full. Katie just had her exchange and Terri's scheduled for the 28th (Terri, where are you???). To help with the stretching skin and intense itching, I lathered up with Palmers cocoa butter about 5 times a day during the fill. It seemed to help a bit, maybe because of the massaging action. I'm just glad the end is in sight! Have a good day!

Margaret

There is no reason the rush the expander process. It takes as long as it takes. If spacing out the time between fills is what you need to reduce pain, do it. If you need less fluid injected during fills, so be it.

If I had it to do over again, I'd make sure my ps started the fills with my previously radiated side, since it's the one that complains most. That way, if I started feeling tight at 50 or 75cc, then that's all the better one would get. For some reason, we alsways started filling from the other side, and I could tolerate a lot! Then, we'd put the same amount in the bad side, and man oh man I just sucked up the pain so I'd be even!

So, you're in control. Take smaller fills if it means less spasm. There's plenty of time.

Anne

Good Morning Ladies,

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We did...my son (25) went into the hospital a week before the holiday with a burst appendix. They had to remove a part of his intestine and he was finally well enough to come home Thanksgiving afternoon. Of course, his health insurance doesn't take effect until Dec 1 but it so doesn't matter. One of the nurses came in the room the second day we were in the hospital to tell us she requested a private room and that there wouldn't be any difference in price. I told her "Lady, I don't know how we're going to pay for this one so it doesn't matter!". The hospital has a grant program available to folks that can't pay so he's applying for that to help offset the cost of 8 days in and the surgery.

I'm thankful for a lot of things this year....my wonderful family; good friends; a great job; the mammogram that discovered the BC; and last but certainly not least, all of you ladies that have made this journey so much easier!

Katie, thanks so much for the encouragement! I'm marking off the days in my calendar until the exchange! Off to do more shopping! Have a good one and shop 'til you drop!

Margaret

I am 3 wks bilat mast with expanders placed (220 cc at time of surgery). Just had my first fill (100 cc) yesterday. I got over the immediate effects of the mastectomy within the first 10 days. But have experienced a significant amount of ongoing  discomfort as well. I can identify 3 different sources. 1) the expander presses into the soft tissue when I slouch, bend over, sleep in positons other than my back, ect. 2) significant muscle spasms. Finally got an anti inflammatory that does help (Voltarin), but can only take it for another 5 days due to its recommended limited use. Is anyone taking an effective muscle relaxant that can be taken for longer period while I undergo the expansions, or do the muscle spasms lessen after awhile? 3) the pain caused by cut nerve endings. This sounds like what you are referring to. Like the skin has been scalded or burned. When this sensation gets too intense I wrap the Ace bandage around quite tightly. But I do know that stimlation to the skin area over the breast mounds is essential to maximize nerve regeneration. So I do try as much as possible to just wear loose clothing that will stimulate the area as I move around through the day. I have found like others that at lease the discomfort caused by the expander poking into soft tissue has lessened after the first expansion.

Always thought I handled pain pretty well, but find that I am still reaching for the acetominephen, Ibprophen with regularly. 

Jani 

Hi Lady4law

I emailed my PS and he said that the best thing is Voltarin with tylenol and lots of massage. I used to have back spasms and after trying relaxants, massage, heat, cold and what not I found the only cure for me was lifting weights - not heavy weights, but lots of repetitons. This therapy has resulted in no muscle spasms in the last 4 years (so long as I keep with it) and I have the nice side effect of strong, well formed muscles! Since my surgery I have found that even light stretching and light use (like doing the dishes and vaccuming) causes more severe spasms, and I have been so afraid to do anything in the way of actual exercise, but on this site last night I read about some amazing ladies who are back in the gym, climbing, karate and so on within a short time after surgery. So I am going to walk over to the gym today and maybe try some gentle work on the equipment that allows for isolating specific muscles. I probably won't have the guts to go in, but at least the walk over will do me good! If I do have the courage to work these pecs I will let you know what happens - spasms fixed or spasms worse!

I am so sorry to hear that you have the back problem on top of everything. How are you dealing with the limited range in sleep positions? I am finding it difficult without any back issues. 

If I could redo my first fill I would go for 50-60 ml and not 100 ml. The folks who say slow is better are right. Here after mine will be 50 ml. 

Teribear you are so right. Just the 40 min walk through the snow to the gym was physically and mentally the best thing I have done since my surgery. By the time I got there I felt more relaxed and much of the stiffness and discomfort was eased. At the beginning of my stretching I could barely put my right hand on my head! But I spent a good hour slowly and carefully working the different muscle groups– when I got to the pecs I just reduced the weight to the minimum (5 kg) and so it was more of a range of motion exercise. This with an intermittent massage of the pecs seems to have worked – I think I looked a little strange massaging my chest in the gym! It is now 8 hrs later and I have not taken a Voltarin since this morning – a little tightness off and on but still no full on spasms!

I didn't have much reaction to my expansions either as long as they were under the 100cc mark.  It was exactly like you explained.  I have some minor discomfort but it is mostly from them being so hard no there being NO give to them at all.  No I am suffering from some deep itching that is driving me crazy...any one else having that?  I am wondering if it is the nerves?

That's so great that you got your walk Jani!  I think for me once I get moving and the stretching it takes my mind off how stiff I am and it gets my blood flowing it does wonders for my emotional well being.  I would have loved to have taken that walk with you!  Where in the world do you live that you had to walk in the snow?    Yikes.  I am not brave enough to massage my chest and that is driving me crazy.  I actually get sick to my stomach feeling it and I want so much to get past that.  It is a combination of feeling the expanders under there and the weirdness of the NO feeling/half way feeling that makes me so uncomfortable.

Keep up the workouts....we'll be in much better shape coming out of this tragedy than when we went in,

 before we know it! 

Teri

Jani

I fully intend NOT to have anything over 50cc on my fill this Thursday. I have a PT appointment 3 hours later, but as I generally wait as long as 2 hours to see my PS, I imagine I will be going directly from his office to the PT. If I am hurting maybe she can help. I will be having chemo the next day...Oh goody...sore and nauseated.

Regarding weights, I was told not to lift anything more than 5-10 pounds FOREVER. My PT did tell me to use the small water bottles as weights. I don't know about the other women on this site, but all this concern with Lymphemia seems far more of an issue than the BC . Once the BC was out, I thought I could return to a some what normal life...not so. I can't move my left arm much and today my elbow is so swollen, I can barely more my arm...Lymphemia is worse than BC and never goes away.

Wow, not to lift over 5-10 lbs forever?  Could it be because of your lymphemia?  My ps told me that I could do whatever I wanted as long as it did not hurt.  Except for heavey bench presses right now he encouraged me as he said I would feel physically better if I got my blood flowing and he was so right.

I did find a good sports bra at walmart for like 6.99 that hooks in the front.  I have to wear mine 24/7 does everyone else too?  I do like it alot and it is very comfortable. 

That's a good idea about the down pillow Katie.  I love my down pillows!  I will try that tonight.  I go tomorrow for another fill.  My first since the big one that left me in agony for over week.  I am back to being nervous about the fills when thought I was over it.  I think I only have about 3 appts to go.  I want to end up a full C cup.  I figure I am going to get the boobs I want this time around!

Teri

Teri.

Well the verdict is in. Exercising the muscles works for me! I slept through the night – first time in weeks that I have not been brought rudely awake several times during the night with intense spasms. In the morning I actually caught myself in mid stretch with my arms extended above my head before I realized what I was doing! No spasms at all today. Needless to say I repeated yesterdays routine again. I am living in Norway for the year –hence the long walk through the snow – across the Nidelvan River past the beautiful old cathedral to the gym!

I am up for my next expansion tomorrow. Not worried about the actual procedure given that it was not painful last time. But I am worried about the following few days – I am tired of muscle spasms. I keep going back to reread old posts from women who report that they are happy with the exchange to the permanent implants and that it was all worth it!! What a great site. I am sticking with 50 ml each side and keeping my fingers crossed!

Lady4law:
I have read in other places on this website comments from women reporting that their doctors have recommended no lifting and then others that say go for it! My physician said to listen to what my body is telling me - if it feels alright do it, but if it hurts stop immediately. My sister had a whack of lymph nodes removed on one side with her bilateral mast and she must always be careful of getting no bacterial infections on that arm. That is because the compromised lymph system in that arm is not able to fight off infection as well as normal and she could develop lymphedema –permanent swelling. But she was not told to avoid exercise or lifting. I have looked on various websites and do not see anywhere concerned with implants or lymph node removal the recommendation to never lift or weight train. Unless someone has some other information then it seems that healthy and strong muscles overlying these implants can only be a good thing. Lady4law could you explore the reasons that your physician prescribes this. I don’t want to be doing something that is going to interfere with a good outcome.

Teribear: I know exactly what you are talking about with the icky feeling that touching numb and not quite numb tissue brings. It gives me the willies! For massaging the muscle I am use a broad hand and press hard into the muscle only on the upper part of the breast mound and chest. It’s an area that still has quite a lot of feeling. I am trying to get used to the feeling of the skin on the lower breast mound that is totally numb by putting on soap in the shower and then cocoa butter after the shower every day, but at this point this is really a grit your teeth and bear it session. I believe that this creepy feeling has to do with the fact that the brain still has a representation of the breast there, but when your hand touches the area where the brain should receive touch information it is receiving nothing. That’s when you go Yikes! Over time and lots and lots of touching of the area with the hand the brain should update and loose this expectation. And hopefully it will seem normal again.

Sorry this is way too long of a post. It just feels great to talk to people who understand and care about this stuff.

Hey ladies,

I haven't posted in awhile either. I stopped my expansions early because of pain.

I just had my implants in yesterday and it wasn't that bad. I'm copying a post I put on my May Chemo thread.

I got a little scared last night when I looked in the mirror at like 11 pm and saw my right bandage was almost completely stained with blood (not coming all the way through the bandage but you could see it) and there was only one little spot on the left. I almost went to the ER but didn't.  

Just got back from my Dr's appt this morning and he said no big deal. He ripped (felt like it) the old bandage off and put on a new one. Although, I just looked in the mirror and there is already a spot of blood I can see.

I am suppose to keep these bandages on until Saturday. I have to sponge bathe until then. After my shower on Saturday, antibiotic ointment and news bandages.  

I have this special bra I have to where all the time except when I am in the shower, for 3-5 weeks. It actually feels pretty good, even though it is tight, in that it offers support.  

I feel pretty good considering...pain pills help.

I'm dissappointed because I am going to be smaller than I had hoped. I was a small B and was hoping to go to C but I just couldn't imagine another fill after the last one.

He put 425cc implants in. I'll be lucky if I was as big as before.

Oh well. At least it's done. My sister always says "find the blessing". I guess my blessing is I will never have to wear a bra again!

Hang in there girls, it's true what they say. The implants offered instant relief from the concrete turtles even though...I feel a little "pain" from the surgery.

Hugs!!

Traci